Iran take on Portugal at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, Mordovia, on Monday.
Iran's coach, Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, said Sunday that facing Portugal in the final Group B clash was special, but he stressed that his team has prepared well and still has a chance to qualify for the knockout round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Iran holds the third spot in Group B, with three points, one shy of Spain and Portugal, with one match to go, while Morocco was eliminated after two defeats.
During a press conference on the eve of the game, Queiroz did not reveal his plan for stopping Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, but he said he expected a tougher game compared to the previous two matches as his side fights for its first-ever place in the round of 16.
Queiroz said the match would be hard, given that Portugal is one of the title contenders, although he said that a lot of things could happen in the group as Spain takes on Morocco. Queiroz, who worked with him at Manchester United and with the national team, has called Portugal 'Cristiano Rolando and a group of players who run after him'.
"It has been shown very clearly that this is Portugal against Iran. It is not the coaches that are going to be playing and it is not Cristiano Ronaldo playing against someone. It is the team who are going to be playing Iran," he told a news conference.
Despite collecting four points, Portugal have struggled to hit peak form so far in Russia and their performances have been dogged rather than beautiful, Ronaldo's perfectly placed late free kick which earned them a draw with Spain notwithtstanding.
Santos praised Iran as "the best team in Asia" and predicted a tricky encounter in Saransk. "This (Iran) are a very strong team, well-organised with good experienced players. They are beautifully organised defensively but not only that. They are good on the counter-attack," he said.
"It's going to be a fascinating game. I think Portugal will move on to the Round of 16 but it's going to be a hard-fought battle," he said. "We are going to try to prove on the pitch we have the quality to beat Iran but there are many difficulties."
(Inputs from Reuters)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Iran coach Carlos Queiroz during a press conference on Sunday")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}